20 gauge Auto reviews and advice

[lilham]

I just bought a Compact Stoeger M3020 for my boys. Almost no recoil and only weighs 5.5lbs. Seems to be a great gun.

[DuckBoat]

I got my boy a franchi affinity when he was 5 (just turned 7 last week ). I cut a couple inches off the stock but it was still alittle much to swing. He killed ducks on the water and squirrels with it but I backed down to a 410 which I shortened the stock and lightened the trigger. The 410 lacked kill power so I then decided the barrel was too long on the franchi but didn't cut it since a replacement barrel was $350. I got a mossberg sa -20 that I cut 3" off the stock added 1" pad back too it and had the barrel cut to 19.25". The mossberg was $430 plus tax so the entire gun didn't cost much more than the franchi barrel so I didn't feel bad about cutting it up. He can swing it well.

In stock configuration the sa20 will not cycle 7/8 oz shells and seems to have more kick with 3" steel than the franchi. The franchi will cycle anything you throw at it and seems like a much better gun. Everything is much smoother on it. The mossberg advertises it as 5.5 lbs but is 6 on my scale and franchi was 5.6.

[ransco33]

I've got a Franchi 20 gauge automatic that I really love. I bought it for my wife to shoot a little, but I find myself doing most of my dove hunting and a good bit of duck hunting with it as well.

Is the Franchi you have the affinity model. I believe my daughter and I may make some gun shop rounds this weekend to let her feel them. After reading more reviews about the 11-87 folks says it is heavy. Didn't seem heavy to me but I am an adult vs. a youth. I plan to just buy really nice 20 gauge auto and keep it myself after the kids are gone. Compact model guns will actually fit me well too since I am vertically challenged. I am going to definatly check out that Weatherby SA-08 also.

I actually have the 720, which I believe was the predecessor to the affinity 20 gauge. It is a very light gun that has next to no recoil.

[DuckBoat]

I've got a Franchi 20 gauge automatic that I really love. I bought it for my wife to shoot a little, but I find myself doing most of my dove hunting and a good bit of duck hunting with it as well.

Is the Franchi you have the affinity model. I believe my daughter and I may make some gun shop rounds this weekend to let her feel them. After reading more reviews about the 11-87 folks says it is heavy. Didn't seem heavy to me but I am an adult vs. a youth. I plan to just buy really nice 20 gauge auto and keep it myself after the kids are gone. Compact model guns will actually fit me well too since I am vertically challenged. I am going to definatly check out that Weatherby SA-08 also.

I actually have the 720, which I believe was the predecessor to the affinity 20 gauge. It is a very light gun that has next to no recoil.

720 is gas , affinity is inertia. In general I like inertia guns better.

[ransco33]

720 is gas , affinity is inertia. In general I like inertia guns better.

I stand corrected. I forgot the affinity was inertia. I certainly like the inertia guns better, but haven't had any trouble out of my 720. Bottom line is, the Franchi 20 gauge is a light, sweet shooting gun that you will certainly enjoy long after the young 'un grows out of it.

[Duckpro12]

I just bought a Benelli m2 20 gauge. Ali I can say is I love it. Recoil is low and shoots like a dream. Also the weight is awesome 5.9 lbs. Been duck hunting with it and don't miss the 12 gauge at all. I went with the Benelli for multiple reasons reability, weight, feel and I just wanted one haha. My granddad used one turkey hunting and is one bad dude. Rhino choke plus nitro shells bad combo. They make a compact stock model and is very simple to change the butt pad out.

[JMitch]

I've been looking at 20 ga o/u. The only hold back I've had is pheasant hunting. Has anybody ever pheasant hunted with a 20 ga?

[teul2]

I've been looking at 20 ga o/u. The only hold back I've had is pheasant hunting. Has anybody ever pheasant hunted with a 20 ga?

If you can shoot lead, I wouldn't hesitate taking a 20ga pheasant hunting. 3in 1.25oz #4 or #5 are devastating on a duck.

[H20 Fowl]

I bought a sx3 20 this year, and I am very impressed. As a matter of fact, I think I'm done shooting a 12. I have not picked my 12 up but one time all year. I've put two cases of steel and a case of lead through it so far without any malfunction whatsoever. It's light, it swings well. and out to 35 or 40 yards it's a nightmare for a duck.

[hdforester]

I bought a sx3 20 this year, and I am very impressed. As a matter of fact, I think I'm done shooting a 12. I have not picked my 12 up but one time all year. I've put two cases of steel and a case of lead through it so far without any malfunction whatsoever. It's light, it swings well. and out to 35 or 40 yards it's a nightmare for a duck.

Dang. Really? You've shot 2 cases of steel? Got any openings?

[bamabang]

If you can find one......a browning silver hunter micro midas in 20 is a great little rig. My son grew up on the franchi affinity compact and it was also a nice little scattergun. You want the heaviest gun your kid can comfortably handle to reduce recoil. Lighter is not better in this case.

[tombstone]

my daughter has the 1187 compact (youth) and it sucks. Have had feed problems with good shells. It wont eject cheap shells. I have had it at a Remington service center for the last 8 weeks. The one good thing is it has a short barrel that a kid can maneuver. A lot of the others have a longer barrels so be sure to check barrel length. I will go with a beretta 20 and cut a barrel if I need to or buy a stoeger o/u youth model and let her try that, but I am about sure that 1187 is gone.